Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

IRAN

Tehran - Developments in Iran following death of President Ebrahim Raisi in helicopter crash, and political developments after appointment of interim president.

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Israeli army's military operation in Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah.

Ongoing Israeli offensive in blockaded enclave, on its 229th day, has killed over 35,640 people and injured more than 79,850 amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Clashes and confrontations between Palestinian resistance factions and Israeli army in several areas, including Jabalia in north and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Ramallah - Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023 which have led to killing of at least 510 Palestinians, injuries to around 5,000, and arrest of at least 8,815, according to Palestinian sources.

At least seven Palestinians, including a doctor and a child, were killed in Israeli army raid on the city of Jenin Tuesday.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Protests in Israel to pressure government to resign and reach hostage swap deal with Palestinians.

Reactions and statements on International Criminal Court prosecutor’s announcement of seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu said Monday that a request for arrest warrants by ICC’s prosecutor will not tie Israel's hands in its war on Gaza.

EGYPT

Cairo - Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at reaching hostage swap deal and cease-fire in Gaza.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that flared up last October, in deadliest clashes between two sides since their full-scale war in 2006.

Israeli army on Tuesday claimed that its forces killed a senior military commander of Lebanese Hezbollah group in airstrike on southern Lebanon.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tensions in Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel and retaliatory US airstrikes on targets inside Yemen.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to meet Kenyan President William Ruto at White House. Biden will participate in engagement with Ruto and business leaders.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify before House Committee appropriations subcommittee on State Department's budget request. In afternoon, Blinken will speak at House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing.

New York - Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia's envoys to UN to brief reporters on shared commitments on Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).

GERMANY

Berlin - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to host her French and Polish counterparts, Stephane Sejourne and Radoslaw Sikorski, respectively.

SPAIN

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to appear before lawmakers in Spain's lower house, where he is due to address accusations against his wife among other topics.

UK

London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to questions from lawmakers in House of Commons.

ALBANIA

Tirana - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to visit Albania, where his schedule reportedly includes talks with Prime Minister Edi Rama, President Bajram Begaj and Foreign Minister Igli Hasani.

UZBEKISTAN

Tashkent - Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus will be received by Uzbekistan’s President Sevket Mirziyoyev, and will meet with Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan Nurdincan İsmailov, and President of Senate of Supreme Assembly Tanzila Narbayeva.

KENYA

Nairobi - Tropical Cyclone Laly is expected to land in East African nation which recently experienced deadly floods that left over 200 people dead.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Election campaigns continue in Africa’s most advanced economy, with political parties pledging to reduce unemployment rate and crimes in country.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.

NEW CALEDONIA

Noumea - Monitoring developments in French Colony which has witnessed public resistance to Paris' move to grant voting rights to non-natives. Several nations including Australia and New Zealand have removed their citizens from island nation as violence spread across French colony.

CHINA

Beijing - Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi to pay 10-day visit to China during which he will meet Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang.

Beijing - Brazil president’s special advisor Celso Amorim to pay week-long visit to China.

TAIWAN

Taipei - Monitoring legislative tussle between ruling and opposition lawmakers which has put the administration of newly-inaugurated President William Lai in spotlight from day one. Opposition parties, which have majority in legislature, want to empower lawmaking body for stricter scrutiny of government, punishments to officials who make false statements as well as requiring president to personally answer questions from lawmakers.

THE ECONOMY

Tokyo - Japan to share international trade figures for April.

London - UK to share inflation figures for April.

Brussels - ACEA to announce Europe's new passenger car registrations in April.

SPORTS

Dublin - Italian football club Atalanta to meet German opponents Bayer Leverkusen in UEFA Europa League final.

SPECIAL REPORTS

EXPLAINER – What next as ICC prosecutor seeks warrants for Israeli leaders?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul - Report on the next steps after the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor application for arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders.

The story explains the procedure that will be followed by the ICC, including details of the judges who would evaluate the request and an expected timeline for the process.

It includes comments from Sergey Vasiliev, an associate professor at University of Amsterdam’s Law Faculty, who shares his expectations for the outcome and discusses the possible implications.

WITH VIDEO - Young pro-Palestine students shattered American taboo on criticizing Israel: Columbia University professor

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens - Interview with Stathis Gourgouris, a Greek professor at Columbia University, about the student-led pro-Palestine movement that started in the US and has spread around the globe.

Gourgouris speaks about various aspects of the issue, including the societal impact of the movement in the US, explaining how these young students have broken the longstanding taboo surrounding any criticism of Israel.

He also shares his views on the “disparaging or contemptuous” media coverage of the protests, as well as the violent repression that students have been facing in the US and several European nations.

South Africa’s general election: All you need to know

By Hassan Isilow

Johannesburg - Explainer about South Africa’s general election due to be held on May 29.

The story gives a breakdown of key information, including voter statistics and the main contenders, and explains why the polls are being touted as the most competitive in decades.

It includes interviews with Bonginkosi Ngwenya, a South African elections researcher, and Kealeboga Maphunye, a professor of African politics at the University of South Africa, about the major issues in the lead-up to the elections and the prospects of important candidates.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Stathis Gourgouris, a Greek professor at Columbia University, about the student-led pro-Palestine protests, focusing on various aspects, including the societal impact of the movement in the US and the reasons for their violent repression.